“The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ‘ “Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My words.” ‘ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was]marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” ‘ says the Lord. ‘ “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel” ‘ ” ‘ ” ‘ ” (Jeremiah 18:1-6)!
Dear God and Heavenly Father, hallowed be Your Name. As I enter Your Throne Room today, I do it boldly because Your Son, and our Savior, rent the veil to the Most Holy Place, so that through His sacrifice, we would be allowed entrance! Thank You so much for the love wherewith You have loved us! Through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord we give You thanks. Amen!
So far we have learned two very valuable lessons from our visit to the Potter’s House.
Today our lesson comes to us in the form of a question the Lord is asking His people:
Lesson No. 3: ” ‘ “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” ‘ says the Lord. ‘ “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” ‘ ” ‘ “
From where I stand, what the prophet Jeremiah was witnessing as he visited the Potter’s house that day, was actually a re-play of the history of the human race. Our first parents sinned, became marred, broken, because they chose to listen to the wrong voice.
At creation, Adam had been taken from the dust of the earth, clay. The Creator, could just as easily have banished him and Eve back to the place from which they were taken, immediately. It would eventually happen, “For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19d). “But not now.” God would do everything in His power to save them! Therefore, “[H]e made [them] again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the [P]otter to make.”
With the entrance of sin, human beings needed a change that would make them fit to inherit “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9c), because “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption” (15:50). Therefore, human beings needed to become vessels as it seemed good to the Divine Potter to make.
This change was not intended to be outward, as often can be seen in the changes made in an earthen vessel. A spiritual remodelling is what was needed! A change of heart that would produce a change of character, making it possible for human beings to be spiritually born again.
To understand the importance of the work of the Divine Potter, let us listen in on His conversation with Nicodemus: “Jesus answered, ‘ “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’ ” ‘ ” (John 3:5-7, emphasis supplied).
But everything must happen in its proper time and order. First the spiritual change must take place, the new birth must happen, making it possible for the physical change to take place. That is why Christ’s resurrection from the dead is so important! Because He lives, we too shall live!
It is at the resurrection that these broken vessels will finally and forever be made whole again. All the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual brokenness that we have experienced in this life will be fully healed! Healed, in time for us to inherit and enjoy eternal life! Never again to be threatened by the last enemy – death!
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (58).
I truly believe that when Jeremiah left the Potter’s House that day, his brokenness was already beginning to heal. He had witnessed the undying love of the Divine Potter, and as he understood why the Potter does not discard the marred clay, having to lead this stiffnecked people suddenly did not seem that hard! The prophet had heard the word of the Lord and had learned the lesson!
NOTE: I invite you to re-read parts 2 and 3, of this three part devotional. Some very important additions and changes have been made in order for the lesson to be fully understood. Thank you!